From left, Ashley Klingenberg, Kara Klingenberg and Madeline Alinder hold signs expressing their pro-life views at a rally at Planned Parenthood in St. Paul July 28. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

In an effort to continue shining the light on Planned Parenthood in the wake of undercover videos released by The Center for Medical Progress, several hundred pro-life supporters gathered for a rally at Planned Parenthood’s facility in St. Paul July 28.

Sponsored by Pro-Life Action Ministries and Students for Life of America, speakers highlighted the horrors outlined in the videos, released over the last several weeks and showing Planned Parenthood officials talking about the sale of body parts from aborted babies. Doing so for profit is illegal.

“My reaction to the videos has been a myriad of emotions,” said Angela Erickson northern regional coordinator for Students for Life who was one of the rally’s speakers. “Initially I was sad and angry, but now I’m focusing on the fact that we finally have a great opportunity to finally get Congress to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider.”

Erickson, who is 38 weeks pregnant, said she easily pushed aside any personal discomfort in order to spread an important message and help garner further support for the pro-life movement.

A group of 55 parishioners from Epiphany in Coon Rapids came by bus in a trip organized by Eric Duffy, high school youth minister for the parish.

“We have a lot of awesome pro-life people in our parish,” Duffy said. “A lot of the youth in my program are really very passionate about this, too.”

Among them are Kara Klingenberg and Madeline Alinder, who held pro-life signs for people to see as they drove past the Planned Parenthood facility.

““I think this is really important,” said Klingenberg. “There are a lot of youth here. I am the pro-life generation. I’m really hopeful about this.”

Erickson noted that similar rallies were taking place in cities across the country the same day. And, Brian Gibson from Pro-Life Action Ministries called on people to continue praying at Planned Parenthood and to participate in the upcoming 40 Days for Life.

I think for the first time abortion supporters have to acknowledge the fact that their movement is callous,” Erickson said. “What has been revealed by these videos forces everyone in this country to examine their conscious and ask themselves, ‘Why have we let this happen?’ I strongly feel this will bring together individuals on both sides in a big way.”